Pruning. Planting. Fertilising and feeding. There’s work to be done in the garden this July. Dig in!
Tangy, crunchy micro greens are the easiest of all veggies to grow. In July, all they need is a warm, sunny windowsill or room for germination. Look out for micro green mixes like ‘Rainbow blend’ or ‘Oriental Mix’ or make your own mix of greens from a range of seed like beetroot ‘Bulls Blood’, Chinese cabbage, green mustard, radish, and marog or baby spinach. Sow in seed trays every five to 10 days and snip with scissors when 2 – 4cm high. Harvest the smallest, delicate shoots and sprinkle on salads, roast veggies, open sarmies, and just about any other dish. Details: kirchhoffs.co.za; orrawliving.co.za
We’re planting… Verbena ‘Cadet’ for Winter into Spring flowering. This upright growing variety is equally suitable for growing in pots or in the garden. It is a new breed of verbena that doesn’t go in and out of flower, but consistently produces new blooms. It is also highly resistant to powdery mildew.
The compact plants grow 20-25cm high with a spread of 30-36cm and they can be planted in full sun or in positions that receive morning sun. The colour range includes bright red, pink, purple and white. Its flowers attract butterflies. Details: ballstraathof.co.za
Don’t just think yellow, orange or red, if you want to warm up the home with flowering houseplants. Pink is just as comforting and Winter-flowering cyclamen come in every shade of pink, carrying their clusters of delicate blooms above heart-shaped green leaves. Plants do best in a cool room but with good light. A bright, south or east-facing room is ideal and even a north-facing room, if it doesn’t get too hot. Keep the soil moist but don’t overwater as the roots will rot. Encourage new flowers by snipping off the old ones. Details: lvgplant.co.za
What to do in the garden July
- Prune bush roses from 20 July onwards, and don’t forget to add new compost to the soil. Hydrangeas can also be pruned in July.
- Water during the warmest time of the day. Don’t let the soil dry out completely because drought-stressed plants are also more susceptible to frost.
- Fertilise pansies, and other Winter flowers as well as leafy Winter veggies with a liquid fertiliser once a month.
- Trim deciduous creepers.
- Vegetables and herbs in containers should be watered twice a week and fed every second week.
- Protect conifers from the Italian Cypress aphid by spraying the stems and foliage with an organic insecticide or use insecticide granules sprinkled around the base of the conifer.
